Four

Yesterday our first born turned 4. When you are 1, 2, and even 3 years old you’re pretty much still considered a baby to me. Now that she’s four, she’s my little lady. She seemed to have grown up overnight too. The day before, she picked out a very fancy and sparkly pink party dress to wear on her special day and Gigi bought her a real tiara from a bridal shop to make her feel extra fancy. She looked like a princess, a beautiful 4 year old princess and the day was perfect. She woke up and opened her presents, then got to eat breakfast in the living room while watching a movie. She requested a strawberry smoothie and cinnamon toast and to watch Carebears. We then got dressed and headed to school. I almost cried when all her little friends ran up to her telling her Happy Birthday and also commenting on how beautiful she looked. She had the biggest smile on her face. Today was her day and she knew it. For her birthday lunch we brought in pizza, fruit, juice boxes, and Cinotti’s cupcakes. She shares a birthday with fellow classmate Adam so the boys got fire truck plates and the girls ate off of Rapunzel plates. (Isla’s new favorite princess) After a nap at home, we played in the front yard with her new fort and 'look and find' book until it was time to get ready for ballet. Even her ballet class sang to her and oohed and awed over her tiara that she still had on top of her head. After ballet we headed to Carabbas for her birthday dinner. She chose it because she loves how they sing to you in Italian. However when the time came, she got all shy and put her head on the table until they were finished. Then she devoured the chocolate brownie and mousse goodness that was served. Here are some pictures from her day.

Happy 4th Birthday to our Isla Shea Halman. We love you beyond words and we are so lucky to have had you placed in our arms 4 years ago. Life is absolutely amazing with you, our little girl in it.

Isla, at Four, loves: purple and pink, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, anything princess, snuggling on the couch in the morning, playing with her brother, watching Little Bear and any Disney Princess movie, her best friend Riley, being rocked to sleep at naptime, reading books before bedtime, doing crafts with mamma, Sunday night dinners, going out to “fancy” restaurants, singing Taylor Swift songs on the way to school, gardening, look and find books, slushes, and the list goes on.

She’s our angel and she’s only 4!

Easter

This weekend was a welcomed one.  We’ve been so busy the whole month of April and I felt that this weekend was a breath of fresh air.  Our family relaxed and enjoyed the holiday together without a lot of stress.  Saturday morning we woke up, went to Ellen’s Kitchen for breakfast (where we unexpectedly ran into Uncle B and jumped in his booth), made a grocery run, then headed back home to dye Easter eggs. 

(snack before breakfast…we let Daddy sleep in after his 30th birthday celebration the night before)

The kit this year promised marbleized looking eggs.  It was kind of a process which involved putting a baggie on your hand and dropping dots of color on the egg while rolling it around in your hand.  Pretty complicated for an adult to do, let alone an almost 4 year old.  But she kept at it and didn’t get discouraged.  They turned out better than I thought but note to self:  just by the simple “tablet in vinegar kit” next year.   

After nap, we decided to spend the remainder of the afternoon at the beach.  It was nice to sit in a beach chair and watch John play with Isla and Leo in the ocean.  It was so relaxing for me and I couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like in a month or so when we would have a 3rd little baby on the sand next to us.  We came home, took baths, and cooked out on the back porch before watching a movie and going to bed. 

Easter morning Isla and Leo woke up to see what the Easter bunny had filled their baskets with.  Then we got dressed for the 8 o’clock service, snapped a few Easter morning porch shots, and headed to church. 

After another family breakfast at Ellen’s Kitchen, we went home for the first Easter Egg Hunt of the day…

Leo found one egg, and after eating it’s gummy bunny contents, seemed content to just run around the yard and let sister find the rest of the eggs. 

They took naps, mommy got a pedicure, daddy cooked green bean casserole, then we headed over to Coach and Gigi’s for round 2.  Papa, Granny and PawPaw, Uncle B and Heather, the next door neighbors, Ron and Amy and their 2 girls , Ellery and Hadley, were all there to celebrate.  After an egg hunt in Coach and Gigi’s front yard, we went next door to find 152 more stuffed eggs that the Easter bunny had left behind.  We now have a Publix shopping bag full of Easter candy and tiny treasures. 

Again, Leo left the egg hunting to the girls while he ran around putting buckets on his head. 

A dinner of ham, mac n cheese, green bean casserole, deviled eggs, and potato salad topped off the day.  And after WAY, WAY too much candy and running around the driveway until I was sure the sugar was out of their systems, we headed back home.  They fell asleep as soon as their little bunny ears hit their beds. I couldn’t have asked for a better Easter weekend!!!